# Glassy surface

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030230) › Glassy surface
- NTSB code: 03023025
- Cases: 25
- In the probable cause: 10
- Fatal cases: 2
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 1 / 3
- 2009: 0 / 3
- 2012: 0 / 1
- 2013: 1 / 3
- 2014: 2 / 3
- 2015: 0 / 1
- 2017: 0 / 2
- 2019: 1 / 2
- 2021: 0 / 1
- 2022: 1 / 1
- 2024: 1 / 1
- 2025: 3 / 3
- 2026: 0 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 6 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 3 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 3 cases
- [Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402): 2 cases
- [Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380): 2 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 2 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 2 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 1 cases
- [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 1 cases
- [Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g): 3 cases
- [Grumman G-44](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-44): 2 cases
- [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 2 cases
- [Hiller UH-12E](https://openairdocs.org/model/hiller-uh-12e): 1 cases
- [Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2-mk-i-l20a): 1 cases
- [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2): 1 cases
- [Aviat A-1C-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-200): 1 cases
- [Aviat A-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1a): 1 cases
- [Cessna 210B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210b): 1 cases
- [Cessna TU206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206g): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 15 cases
- [Landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041) (Aircraft): 5 cases
- [Descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040) (Aircraft): 5 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 4 cases
- [Descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA277), Jul 20, 2026: Rans S-6-S (N528MW), Morgan, VT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with water.
- [NTSB ERA26LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA075), Dec 20, 2025: Aviat A-1C-200 (N656B), Hawthorne, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate for a glassy water landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN25LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA211), Jun 18, 2025: Cessna U206 (N932DB), Falun, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot experiencing the featureless terrain illusion during the approach which gave the perception that the airplane was at a higher altitude over the glassy water surface than it was, resulting…
- [NTSB ANC25LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA057), May 21, 2025: Cessna A185F (N3308S), Trapper Creek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper flare while landing on glassy water, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB WPR25LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA036), Oct 13, 2024: Cessna 180 (N9493C), Owinza, ID. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water during a low pass over a lake.
- [NTSB ERA22LA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA402), Sep 7, 2022: Cessna U206G (N756SG), Millinocket, ME, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate for a glassy water landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB ANC21LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA081), Aug 21, 2021: Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A) (N4334Y), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and nose over.
- [NTSB GAA20CA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA007), Oct 7, 2019: De Havilland Beaver DHC 2 (N1544), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control while landing on glassy water, which resulted in the left float touching the water, a loss of yaw control, and impact with a riverbank.
- [NTSB ERA19LA229](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA229), Jul 16, 2019: Progressive Aerodyne Searey (N632FG), Crescent, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s misjudgment of his altitude during landing and subsequent decrease in pitch attitude, which resulted in a collision with the water.
- [NTSB GAA17CA475](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA475), Aug 4, 2017: Cessna 180 (N5236D), Willow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare while landing on water with glassy water conditions, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.